Device in ski bindings with pivotal sole support

ABSTRACT

Ski binding apparatus which has a sole support pivotal about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the ski surface and secured against axial lifting off from the ski, in which the sole support is axially secured by readily detachable securing means. In preferred embodiments the readily detachable securing means are in the form of two-part snap action connection means which automatically connect and disconnect the sole support in response to forces on the two parts in the direction of the pivot axis. In other preferred embodiments, the securing means include spring detents engageable with aperture means in a pivot pin for the sole support.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ski binding apparatus with a solesupport pivotal about a pivot axis disposed approximatelyperpendicularly to the ski surface. The present invention is moreparticularly related to apparatus for securing such sole support againsta lifting off from the ski.

Such sole supports mounted on the ski are intended to reduce thefriction occurring between the ski boot and the ski during a releaseoperation. The sole supports may have different shapes, however, theyare preferably constructed disk-shaped and are rotatably riveted orscrewed to a plate for purposes of fastening at the ski. In previouslycontemplated arrangements, disk-shaped sole supports are rotatablysecured to a plate by means of a screw nut accessible when the plate isscrewed onto the ski.

In practice, however, it has been found that dirt enters between thesole support and the plate during use, which dirt reduces the easymovability of the sole support and finally blocks the same. The solesupport then has to be cleaned again and be provided with lubricant. Ifthe sole support is riveted on, removal for cleaning is not possible. Ifthe sole support is screwed on, then it has to be removed by means of ascrew driver. In order to be able to clean the sole support of the typeof construction of the above-mentioned previously contemplatedarrangements, the plate has to be removed at first from the ski sincethe head of the screw retaining the sole support is accessible only fromthe underside of the plate. The excessively frequent required unscrewingof the plate from the ski additionally impairs the durability and lifeof this threaded connection.

The present invention is therefore concerned with the task to so improvethe connecting arrangement sole support described that it can be cleanedin a simple manner.

The present invention contemplates overcoming the above-mentionedproblems by providing that the sole support includes axially securingreadily detachable securing means so that the sole support can bereadily removed from the ski, preferably without the assist of tools.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a snap-action orsnap-button fastener connection is provided as securing means, whichconnection also defines the pivot support or pivot axis for the solesupport. Such a connection, on the one hand, pivotally secures orfastens the sole support but, on the other hand, can be removed by asimple pulling movement in the direction of the pivot axis. No tool isnecessary for the removal since no threaded connection whatsoever has tobe disconnected for the removal. A jammed or blocked sole support canthus be rendered operable again in case of emergency also on the skislopes.

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that aplate is secured on the ski as base support for the sole support whichconsists at least within the area of the pivot axis of the sole supportof a conventional material offering a tenacious elasticity and includestherein an undercut aperture or recess for the accommodation of anenlarged push-button or snap-button portion to be forced into theaperture by a bolt defining the pivot axis of the sole support andfastened to the sole support. This embodiment is characterized byparticular simplicity in that no additional clamping springs or the likeare required. The bolt can be pressed or riveted into the sole support.The bolt is preferably so constructed that it includes a ring shoulderwhich abuts the underside of the sole support, and is provided with ahead portion whose upper boundary surface is flush with the top side ofthe sole support or lies below the surface of the sole support. Such abolt can be permanently connected with the sole support. During thedisengagement of the snap-button connection, the head portion absorbsthe tensional forces and during closing of the snap-button connection,the forces applied thereby act on the annular shoulder. Since the headportion does not project beyond the top side of the sole support, itdoes not impair the ski boot during the release operation of the safetybinding.

Another advantageous feature of the above-mentioned preferred embodimentprovides that the snap-button portion to be forced into the apertureincludes two conical sections coaxial to the axis of the bolt anddiverging with respect to one another between which is disposed acylindrical section. Such conical sections can be readily manufacturedwhereby the angle of inclination thereof predetermines the forcenecessary for opening and closing the snap-button connection. Thecylindrical section disposed between the conical sections prevents thewear of the aperture when the snap-button portion is inserted or pulledout.

Apertures or recesses whose angle of undercut is equal to the cone angleof the conical section to be engaged by the undercut are subjected tolesser wear by reason in particular of the larger contact surfaces.

In another preferred embodiment, an insert element, especially in theshape of a U-shaped spring, is additionally provided as securing meansagainst a lifting off of the sole support. Such an insert element can bepulled out laterally either completely or partially in a simple mannerfor unlocking purposes or can be inserted for locking purposes.

The use of such a spring has at the same time the advantage that thespring is usable as return spring in order to return the sole supportinto its center position. This is, in particular, of importance alsowhen a sole plate pivotal on the ski is provided and the sole support isrotatably supported on the sole plate as a rotatable disk. The rotatabledisk is thereby able to follow the ski boot as regards its angularposition during a lateral deflection of the ski boot by a correspondingpivoting of the sole plate, which is pivotally supported on the ski, forexample, in front of the pivot pin of the pivot disk serving for thesupport of the forward boot portion, whereby the release resistance isreduced and the safety for an orderly release of the binding isincreased. With the hitherto customary devices of this type, it wasnecessary to return the sole plate again into its prescribed centerposition for the re-engagement of the binding.

In a particularly preferred simple embodiment of the invention, thereturn spring engages the pivot pin of the pivot disk. Advantageously,the return spring is formed by a U-shaped spring fastened laterally onthe ski whose free leg is coupled with the sole plate, especially bymeans of the pivot pin of the rotatable disk. A particularly simpleconstruction results thereby if the U-spring is supported with prestresson the pivot pin of the sole plate and on a further pin fixed on the skiand arranged preferably between the pivot pin of the sole plate and thepivot pin of the rotatable disk, which spring engages on both sides thetwo first-mentioned pins as also the further pin.

For the purpose of a further reduction of the friction, the pivotal soleplate is, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention,slidingly supported on a bottom plate fixed on the ski underinterposition of a low friction layer, for example, of low frictionlaminated metal plates having low friction material embedded therein,hereinafter referred to as low friction plates, whereas the returnspring is arranged in an aperture or recess of this layer. The platesforming this layer may thereby be inserted, separated into individualdisks, loosely into apertures which are formed by the bottom plate or byretaining plates securely connected therewith. A further considerablereduction of the friction results additionally if the rotatable plate isrotatably supported on the pivotal sole plate by interposition of afurther low friction layer, especially of "TEFLON"(polytetrafluoroethylene).

These and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of safety ski binding apparatus including apivotal sole support with a snap-button connection in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line II--II ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,illustrating certain details of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of safety ski bindingapparatus including a pivotal sole support with a snap-button connectionin accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,illustrating some details of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a still further modified embodiment inaccordance with the present invention, in cross section taken along lineVII--VII of FIG. 8, wherein the cut-away pivotal sole plate androtatable disk are indicated only in dash and dot lines;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7,this figure being shown at an enlarged scale of 2 to 1 with respect toFIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 7, wherein the sole plateand rotatable disk are shown in this figure and the sole plate isdeflected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the various views to designate like parts, and moreparticularly to FIG. 1, this figure illustrates a sole supportinstallation. It includes as sole support two circularly shaped disks 1arranged adjacent one another which are rotatably supported on a plate3. The plate 3 is adapted to be secured with its side opposite the disks1 on the top side of the ski, for example, by an adhesive connectionutilizing conventional bonding means or by a threaded connection. Thedisks 1 should thereby be arranged transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the ski.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section through the sole support installationaccording to FIG. 1. The plate 3 is constructed wedge-shaped so that thesole bottom side of a ski boot abuts only at the highest areas of thedisks 1. The ski boot is thereby able to deflect out of the longitudinaldirection of the ski with very low friction after the release of thesafety binding in spite of the fact that its sole bottom side is brakedby the areas of the disk 1 rotating in the opposite direction. However,it is necessary for the completely satisfactory operation of the safetybinding that the disks 1 can rotate very easily with respect to theplate 3. Consequently, a lubricant is applied advantageously between thedisks 1 and the plate 3. Appropriate ring-shaped lubricating grooves 5(FIG. 2) are therefore arranged about the axes of the disks 1.

For purposes of cleaning the intermediate space between the disks 1 andthe plate 3 and/or for refilling of the lubricant in the lubricantgrooves 5, the disks 1 are rotatably supported by a snap-buttonconnection generally designated by reference numeral 7. The disks 1 cantherefore be pulled off in the direction of their axes. No tool isrequired for the removal of the disks 1, it only being necessary toapply sufficient axial forces to the disks and plate 3 to separate samefrom the snap connection. Details of the snap-button connection 7 arebest shown in FIG. 3. The disk 1 is retained by a bolt 9 defining thepivot for and extending along the pivot axis of the disk 1. The end ofthe bolt 9 opposite the disk 1 is provided with an enlarged snapbuttonportion 13 which engages behind an undercut 15 in an aperture 11 of theplate 3. The snap-button portion 13 includes two conical sections 17 and19 coaxial to the axis of the bolt 9 and diverging or opening withrespect to each other to accommodate insertion and retraction of bolt 9from aperture 11. The angle of undercut 15 of the aperture 11 is equalto the cone angle of the cone section 19 to be engaged by the undercut15.

The plate 3 consists in the illustrated embodiment uniformly of amaterial having a tenacious elasticity. Any conventional materialoffering this property can be used for the present invention. Specificpreferred materials for the plate 3 include hard rubber and syntheticresinous materials including polyamides. However, it is also within thescope of the present invention to provide only the area about theaperture 11 of such tenacious elastic material. For purposes ofimproving the clamping action of the undercut 15, the latter may also beprovided with radial slots (not illustrated). The present invention alsocontemplates non-illustrated embodiments similar to the one of FIG. 3but with the bolt fastened to the plate and the aperture in the disk.

It is prevented by an appropriate construction of the bolt 9 that thebolt is removed from the disk 1 during the pulling off of disk 1 fromplate 3. To that end, the bolt 9 includes an annular or ring shoulder 23which abuts the bottom side of the disk 1. The ring shoulder 23 absorbsthe pressure forces acting on the disk 1 during the closing of thesnap-button connection 7, i.e., during the insertion of the snap buttonhead portion 13 into the aperture 11. On the other hand, bolt 9 isprovided with a head portion 25 whose upper boundary surface 27 is flushwith the top side of the disk 1. The head portion 25 absorbs during thedisconnection of the snap-button connection 7 the tensional forcesacting on the disk 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a sole support installation.Parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated bycorresponding reference numerals of the 100 series. A disk 101 isrotatably supported on a plate 103. A riveted connection 129 secures theplate 103 pivotally on a mounting plate 131 as can be seen best fromFIG. 5. The plate 103 and the mounting plate 131 have essentially thesame elongated shape. Whereas the riveted connection 129 is provided atone end of this elongated shape, the mounting plate 131 is provided atthe other end with guide means 133 angularly bent U-shaped andpermitting only a pivot movement of the plate 103. For purposes ofreducing the friction between the disk 101 and the mounting plate 131,the plate 103 is provided on its top and bottom side with sliding webs135 which extend concentrically to the pivot axis of the rivetconnection 129 and to the pivot axis of the snap-button connection 107fastening the disk 101, respectively. An aperture 137 is provided in theplate 103 into which is inserted a U-shaped spring 141 extending in anannular groove 139 about the riveted connection 129. If the plate 103 ispivoted out of its position coincidental with the mounting plate 131,then the spring 141 presses the plate 103 again back into its originalposition by way of a nose portion of the plate 103 projecting into theaperture 137 in that the spring 141 is supported by an abutment 145.

Details of the snap-button connection 107 illustrated in FIG. 6 can bereadily understood in view of the analogous use of reference numerals ofthe 100 series by comparison with the embodiment of FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 7 to 9, a bottom plate 211 is secured on the ski 210, forexample, by means of screws 212. Individual retaining plates 213 and 214which are connected with the bottom plate 211, for example, by spotwelding, are provided with apertures 215 and 216 into which are insertedlow friction plates 217 and 218 corresponding in their contours to theapertures, which low friction plates 217 and 218 project upwardly beyondthe retaining plates 213 and 214. The low friction plates arecommercially available copper-plated sheet-metal plates having a poroussurface consisting of tin and bronze which is sintered galvanically,into which is embedded Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) and lead.

A pivotal sole plate 220 is pivotally secured between the twodisk-shaped low friction plates 217 by means of a pivot pin 219 fixed tothe ski. A rotatable disk 223 forming the sole support means, isrotatably supported on the sole plate 220 in turn by means of a pivotpin 221 under interposition of disks 222 of a low friction material, forexample, Teflon. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9, therotatable disk generally designated by reference numeral 223 consists ofa lower metal disk 224 and of an upper plastic material disk 225 of anysuitable, known synthetic resinous material, rigidly connected with themetal disk 224.

A further pin 226 fixed to the ski or a corresponding abutment isarranged intermediate the pivot pin 219 and the pivot pin 221 of therotatable disk 223 in the center longitudinal plane of the ski or nearthe same. A U-shaped spring 227 is placed in prestressed condition aboutthe pins 219, 226 and 221 and which with its rearward loop-shapedportion 227c which connects the two leg portions 227a and 227b,surrounds the pivot pin 219 with a spacing toward the outside andengages on both sides the further pin 226 fixed to the ski and the pivotpin 221 of the rotatable disk 223 on both sides by means of lateralbent-out portions 227d and 227e. The U-spring 227 is therebyaccommodated in the intermediate space which is formed by the lowfriction plates between the bottom plate 211 and the pivotal sole plate220, and engages in an annular groove 228 at the pivot pin 221 and issecured against a lifting out in the upward direction by means of ashoulder or collar 229, engaging over the metallic disk 224 of therotatable disk 223.

The pivot pin 221 is guided in an arcuately shaped slot 231 by means ofa lower collar 230 and limits thereby the angular deflection of thepivotal sole plate 220 during the pivotal deflection thereof about thepivot pin 219 in the direction of arrow x₁ or x₂. The ends 227f of thespring 227 may also be used for limiting the pivot stroke of the soleplate 220 in that these ends 227f abut after a predetermined stroke, forexample, against projections 214a of the retaining plates 214, which areformed by bent-off plate portions.

In FIG. 7, the sole plate 220 together with the rotatable disk 223 arein the normal center position thereof. The sole plate 220 is retained inthis position by the U-spring 227 which is supported with prestress, onthe one hand, at the pivot pin 219 and, on the other, at the furtherfixed pin 226 fixedly mounted with respect to the ski. The pivot pin 221connecting the sole plate 220 and the rotatable disk 223 is therebyretained in the center position by means of the leg portions 227a and227b thereof and the lateral bent-out portions 227e.

If, for example, as a result of a twisting fall, a lateral force occurswhich seeks to deflect the pivotal sole plate 220 in the direction ofarrow x₂, then this can take place against the return effect of thespring 227 in that the pivot pin 221 deflects the leg portion 227a inthe direction of arrow x₁ by means of the associated bent-out portion227e as is indicated in FIG. 9 in the right end position of the pin 221limited by the arcuately shaped slot 231. The other leg portion 227bthereby remains supported by the pin 226 fixed to the ski. The rotatabledisk 223 is thereby able to rotate on the sole plate 220 together withthe boot sole about its pivot pin 221 corresponding to the lateraldeflection or pivoting movement of the boot. If the pressure of the booton the rotatable disk 223 and therewith on the deflected sole plate 220ceases, then the deflected leg portion 227a of the U-spring 227 forcesthe pivot pin 221 and therewith the sole plate 220 again back into thecenter position illustrated in FIG. 7.

If the rotatable disk 223 is to be lifted out, then this can take placein that the U-spring 227 is pulled forwardly in the direction of arrow yby means of its forward loop-shaped end 227c whereby the spring expandsover the pins 226 and 221 and releases the pivot pin 221, for example,until the bent-out portion 227e engages the pin 226 fixed at the ski.The pivot pin 221 is thereby freed in the upward direction and therotatable disk 223 can be freely removed in the upward directiontogether with the pin 221. As a result of a further retraction of thespring or also by a complete removal thereof, it is additionallypossible to deflect the sole plate 220 completely through 360°. Also,the rotatable disk 223 and the sole plate 220 as well as also the partsdisposed therebelow, especially all sliding portions of theinstallation, are all freely accessible so that they can be cleaned onall sides. This possibility of disassembly of the rotatable disk hassignificance also without the return function of the spring and thedeflection possibility of the sole plate.

The pin 226 fixed on the ski is arranged underneath the sole plate 220preferably covered by the latter on the base plate 211, but may alsopossibly extend through the sole plate 220 in an aperture 232, forexample, in a slot-like aperture 232 in such a manner that the soleplate 220 is not impaired within its pivot range by the fixed pin 226 inits deflection action.

Also, the parts of the installation disposed underneath the sole plate,for example, the low friction plates 217 and 218, are freely accessibleby disengagement of the sole plate 220 at the pivot pin 219 and byremoval of the pivot pin or preferably by removal of the spring 227 sothat also these parts can be exchanged if desired.

The present invention is not limited in its application to a forwardsole plate on which rests the forward portion of the boot but isapplicable equally for any other pivotal sole plate, for example, for aheel plate arranged below the heel portion of the boot.

In lieu of a U-spring, any other suitable spring, constructed in anyappropriate manner may be provided insofar as it can be incorporatedinto the construction of the pivotal sole plate and/or the plateaggregates in an appropriate manner. For example, in lieu of theU-shaped spring, two correspondingly clamped leaf springs may beprovided or two pressure or tension springs possibly also rubber springsmay be provided which retain the pivot pin 221 in the center positionthereof and/or return the same into the center position again duringdeflection of the sole plate.

The present invention is also applicable to a sole plate withoutrotatable disk in that, for example, the pivot pin 221 for a rotatabledisk is replaced by a pin or projection arranged on the pivotal soleplate 220 for the support of the spring 227 or a corresponding differentspring.

In preferred embodiments, the rotatable disk is constructed of a lowfriction material or one or both sides of the rotatable disk are coatedwith a low friction material.

While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it is understood that the same is not limitedthereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications asknown to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:
 1. Ski binding apparatus comprising:sole support means,and sole support securing means for securing said sole support means toa ski with said sole support means being pivotal about a pivot axisextending approximately perpendicularly to the ski surface, said solesupport securing means including non-threaded readily detachable meansfor accommodating simple manual detachment of said sole support meansfrom a ski, whereby said sole support means can be manually detachedfrom and attached to a ski without use of any tools, in which the solesupport means includes a rotatable disk and is rotatably supported on asole plate means which, in its turn, is pivotally supported on the skiabout a pivot axis disposed substantially perpendicularly to the skisurface, wherein the rotatable disk is rotatably secured on the soleplate means against axial lifting off by the readily detachable means.2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable disk isrotatably supported on the pivotal sole plate by interposition of atleast one layer of low friction material.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
 4. Skibinding apparatus comprising:sole support means, and sole supportsecuring means for securing said sole support means to a ski with saidsole support means being pivotal about a pivot axis extendingapproximately perpendicularly to the ski surface, said sole supportsecuring means including non-threaded readily detachable means foraccommodating simple manual detachment of said sole support means from aski, whereby said sole support means can be manually detached from andattached to a ski without use of any tools, in which the sole supportmeans is constructed as rotatable disk and is supported rotatably on asole plate means, wherein the sole plate means together with therotatable disk is secured against axial lifting off by the readilydetachable means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidrotatable disk consists of a low friction material.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the rotatable disk is coated on at leastone side with a low friction material.
 7. Apparatus according to claim4, wherein the rotatable disk is coated on both sides with a lowfriction material.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saiddetachable means includes means for accommodating movement of said soleplate means solely along said pivot axis from an in use operativeposition to a detached position.
 9. Ski binding apparatuscomprising:sole support means, and sole support securing means forsecuring said sole support means to a ski with said sole support meansbeing pivotal about a pivot axis extending approximately perpendicularlyto the ski surface, said sole support securing means including readilydetachable means for accommodating simple detachment of said solesupport means from a ski, wherein the sole support means is constructedas a rotatable disk supported rotatably on a sole plate means, whereinthe sole plate means together with the rotatable disk is secured againstaxial lifting off by the readily detachable means, and wherein aninsertion element is provided as said readily detachable means, saidinsertion element being insertable approximately parallel to the skiplane into an aperture of a pivot member defining the pivot axis of thesole support means.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theinsert element is a spring element.
 11. Ski binding apparatuscomprising:sole support means, and sole support securing means forsecuring said sole support means to a ski with said sole support meansbeing pivotal about a pivot axis extending approximately perpendicularlyto the ski surface, said sole support securing means including readilydetachable means for accommodating simple detachment of said solesupport means from a ski, wherein the sole support means includes arotatable disk rotatably supported on a sole plate means, said soleplate means being pivotally supported on the ski about a pivot axisdisposed substantially perpendicularly to the ski surface, wherein therotatable disk is rotatably secured on the sole plate means againstaxial lifting off by the readily detachable means, and wherein an insertelement is provided as said readily detachable means, said insertelement insertable into an aperture of the pivot member defining thepivot axis of the sole support means approximately parallel to the skiplane.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the insert elementis a spring element.
 13. Ski binding apparatus comprising:sole supportmeans, and sole support securing means for securing said sole supportmeans to a ski with said sole support means being pivotal about a pivotaxis extending approximately perpendicularly to the ski surface, saidsole support securing means including non-threaded readily detachablemeans for accommodating simple manual detachment of said sole supportmeans from a ski, whereby said sole support means can be manuallydetached from and attached to a ski without use of any tools, whereinthe sole support means includes a rotatable disk and is rotatablysupported on a sole plate means, wherein sole plate mounting means areprovided for supporting said sole plate means on said ski in such amanner that said sole plate means is movable from a center position torespective laterally deflected positions, and wherein a return springmeans is provided which exerts a spring force on said sole plate meanswhen said sole plate means is in a laterally deflected position forreturning the sole plate means into the center position.
 14. Ski bindingapparatus comprising:sole support means, and sole support securing meansfor securing said sole support means to a ski with said sole supportmeans being pivotal about a pivot axis extending approximatelyperpendicularly to the ski surface, said sole support securing meansincluding readily detachable means for accommodating simple detachmentof said sole support means from a ski, wherein the sole support meansincludes a rotatable disk and is rotatably supported on a sole platemeans, wherein sole plate mounting means are provided for supportingsaid sole plate means on said ski in such a manner that said sole platemeans is movable from a center position to respective laterallydeflected positions, wherein a return spring means is provided whichexerts a spring force on said sole plate means when said sole platemeans is in a laterally deflected position for returning the sole platemeans into the center position, and wherein an insertion element isprovided as said readily detachable means, said insertion element beinginsertable into an aperture of a pivot member defining the pivot axis ofthe sole support means.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein theinsertion element is a spring element.
 16. Apparatus according to claim15, wherein the spring element constructed as insertion elementsimultaneously is the return spring for returning the sole support meansinto the center position.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, in whichthe sole plate means is connected with the rotatable disk by a pivotmember, wherein the return spring engages the pivot member. 18.Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pivot member is a pivotpin.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the return springengages a pivot member connecting the sole plate means with therotatable disk.
 20. Ski binding apparatus comprising:sole support means,and sole support securing means for securing said sole support means toa ski with said sole support means being pivotal about a pivot axisextending approximately perpendicularly to the ski surface, said solesupport securing means including readily detachable means foraccommodating simple detachment of said sole support means from a ski,wherein the sole support means includes a rotatable disk and isrotatably supported on a sole plate means, wherein sole plate mountingmeans are provided for supporting said sole plate means on said ski insuch a manner that said sole plate means is movable from a centerposition to respective laterally deflected positions, wherein a returnspring means is provided which exerts a spring force on said sole platemeans when said sole plate means is in a laterally deflected positionfor returning the sole plate means into the center position, and whereinthe return spring simultaneously is a spring element constructed as aninsertion element forming the readily detachable means.
 21. Ski bindingapparatus comprising:sole support means, and sole support securing meansfor securing said sole support means to a ski with said sole supportmeans being pivotal about a pivot axis extending approximatelyperpendicularly to the ski surface, said sole support securing meansincluding readily detachable means for accommodating simple detachmentof said sole support means from a ski, wherein the sole support meansincludes a rotatable disk and is rotatably supported on a sole platemeans, wherein sole plate mounting means are provided for supportingsaid sole plate means on said ski in such a manner that said sole platemeans is movable from a center position to respective laterallydeflected positions, wherein a return spring means is provided whichexerts a spring force on said sole plate means when said sole platemeans is in a laterally deflected position for returning the sole platemeans into the center position, and wherein the return spring is formedby a U-shaped spring fixed at the ski whose free leg portions areoperatively connected with the sole plate means.
 22. Apparatus accordingto claim 21, wherein the U-shaped spring is supported with prestress onthe pivot pin of the sole plate means and on a further pin fixed withrespect to the ski.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein thereturn spring engages both of said pins on both lateral sides thereof.24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said further pin isarranged intermediate the pivot pin of the sole plate means and thepivot pin of the rotatable disk.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 24,wherein the pivot stroke of the sole plate means is limited by a slot ina bottom plate fixed to the ski and carrying the pivot pin of the soleplate means, said slot being operable as abutment for the pivot pin ofthe rotatable disk.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein saidslot is arcuately shaped.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 25, whereinthe pivot stroke of the sole support means and of the sole plate meansis limited by abutment means cooperating with the spring ends. 28.Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the pivot stroke of the soleplate means is limited by a slot in a bottom plate fixed with respect tothe ski and carrying the pivot pin of the sole plate means, said slotforming an abutment for the pivot pin of the rotatable disk. 29.Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the pivot stroke of the solesupport means and of the sole plate means is limited by abutment meanscooperating with the spring ends.
 30. Ski binding apparatuscomprising:sole support means, and sole support securing means forsecuring said sole support means to a ski with said sole support meansbeing pivotal about a pivot axis extending approximately perpendicularlyto the ski surface, said sole support securing means includingnon-threaded readily detachable means for accommodating simple manualdetachment of said sole support means from a ski, whereby said solesupport means can be manually detached from and attached to a skiwithout use of any tools, wherein sole plate means are interposedbetween said sole support means and said ski, wherein at least one ofthe pivotal sole support means and sole plate means is slidinglysupported on one of the ski and a bottom plate fixed to the ski byinterposition of a low friction layer, and wherein a return spring meansis arranged in an aperture of the low friction layer for applying aspring force tending to return at least one of said sole plate means andsaid sole support means to a center position.
 31. Apparatus according toclaim 30, wherein said return spring means includes means forresiliently retaining said sole support means in a central non-pivotedposition.
 32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the low frictionlayer is constituted by low friction laminated metal plates having lowfriction material embedded therein.
 33. Apparatus according to claim 30,wherein the low friction plates are inserted as individual disks intocorresponding apertures of at least one of the two parts consisting ofbottom plate and retaining plate means rigidly secured thereto, said lowfriction plates projecting beyond said one part in the upward direction.34. Ski binding apparatus comprising:sole support means, and solesupport securing means for securing said sole support means to a skiwith said sole support means being pivotal about a pivot axis extendingapproximately perpendicularly to the ski surface, said sole supportsecuring means including readily detachable means for accommodatingsimple detachment of said sole support means from a ski, wherein soleplate means are interposed between said sole support means and said ski,wherein at least one of the pivotal sole support means and sole platemeans is slidingly supported on one of the ski and a bottom plate fixedto the ski by interposition of a low friction layer, wherein a returnspring means is arranged in an aperture of the low friction layer forapplying a spring force tending to return at least one of said soleplate means and said sole support means to a center position, whereinsaid return spring means includes means for resiliently retaining saidsole support means in a central non-pivoted position, and wherein thelow friction layer is inserted into corresponding apertures of at leastone of two parts consisting of the bottom plate and retaining platesfixed to the bottom plate, said low friction layer projecting from saidone part in the upward direction.
 35. Ski binding apparatuscomprising:sole support means including an upper surface directlyengageable with a lower surface of a ski boot, a sole plate attachableto an upper surface of a ski intermediate the ski and said sole supportmeans, a pivot member for pivotally connecting said sole plate to saidupper surface of said ski, for rotation about a vertical pivot axis,connecting means for connecting said sole plate to said sole supportmeans for movement therewith, abutment means spaced from said pivotmember and projecting vertically from the plane of the sole plate, and areturn spring supported at said ski and engaging with said abutmentmeans for applying return forces to said sole plate whenever said soleplate is moved from a central position thereof, said return spring beingfurther supported on said pivot member.
 36. Apparatus according to claim35, wherein said return spring is a U-shaped spring including legportions engaged at respective opposite sides of both said pivot memberand said abutment means.
 37. Ski binding comprising:a pivot plate, adisk, first mounting means for mounting said disk to one of the pivotplate and a ski with the disk being rotatable relatively to said one ofthe pivot plate and ski about a first axis, second mounting means formounting said pivot plate to one of said ski and said disk with thepivot plate being pivotal relatively to said one of said ski and saiddisk about a second axis, one of said pivot plate and said diskincluding an upwardly facing support surface, abutment means on saidpivot plate, and resilient return means engageable with said abutmentmeans for applying forces tending to return said pivot plate to acentral position, wherein said resilient return means is engageable witha pin forming said first mounting means, which pin rotatably supportssaid disk, said pin serving as said abutment means.
 38. Apparatusaccording to claim 37, wherein the one of said sole plate and said diskincluding an upwardly facing support surface consists of a low frictionmaterial.
 39. Apparatus according to claim 37, one of said pivot plateand said disk including an upwardly facing support surface is coated atleast on one side with a low friction material.
 40. Apparatus accordingto claim 37, wherein the one of said pivot plate and said disk includingan upwardly facing support surface is coated on both sides with a lowfriction material.
 41. Ski binding according to claim 37, wherein saidresilient return means is engageable with both of said first and secondmounting means.
 42. Ski binding according to claim 37, wherein saidresilient return means is engageable with said second mounting means.43. Ski binding according to claim 37, wherein said first mounting meansmounts said disk to said pivot plate and said second mounting meansmounts said pivot plate to said ski with said support surface being onsaid disk.
 44. Ski binding according to claim 43, wherein said resilientreturn means is engageable with both of said first and second mountingmeans.
 45. Ski binding according to claim 44, wherein said firstmounting means is constructed as a pivot pin for the rotatable mountingof the disk on the pivot plate.
 46. Ski binding according to claim 43,wherein said resilient return means is engageable with said secondmounting means.
 47. Ski binding according to claim 37, wherein saidfirst and second axes extend substantially vertically with respect tosaid ski.
 48. Ski binding comprising:a pivot plate, a disk, firstmounting means for mounting said disk to one of the pivot plate and aski with the disk being rotatable relatively to said one of the pivotplate and ski about a first axis, second mounting means for mountingsaid pivot plate to one of said ski and said disk with the pivot platebeing pivotal relatively to said one of said ski and said disk about asecond axis, one of said pivot plate and said disk including an upwardlyfacing support surface, abutment means on said pivot plate, andresilient return means engageable with said abutment means for applyingforces tending to return said pivot plate to a central position, whereinsaid resilient return means is engageable with at least one of saidfirst and second mounting means, wherein said first mounting meansmounts said disk to said pivot plate and said second mounting meansmounts said pivot plate to said ski with said support surface being onsaid disk, wherein said resilient return means is engageable with bothof said first and second mounting means with said first mounting meansserving as said abutment means, and wherein said resilient return meansis a spring means having a portion supported at said second mountingmeans and having two arms which contact respective opposite sides ofsaid first mounting means such that, upon a pivoting of the pivot platelaterally away from said central position, a respective one of the twoarms is tensionally engaged with said first mounting means.
 49. Skibinding according to claim 48, wherein said first mounting means isconstructed as a pivot pin for the rotatable mounting of the disk on thepivot plate.
 50. Ski binding according to claim 48, wherein said springmeans is a U-shaped spring element with said two arms being connected bya central bridging portion, said central bridging portion beingengageable with and supported on the pivot pin forming said secondmounting means, and wherein an upwardly directed projecting means isarranged on the ski, said arms engaging respective opposite lateralsides of said projecting means when said pivot plate is in said centralposition such that, when one of said arms is moved laterally upondisplacement of said pivot plate, the other of said arms is maintainedin position by said projecting means and said pivot pin forming saidsecond mounting means.
 51. Ski binding comprising:a pivot plate,mounting pin means for mounting said pivot plate to said ski with thepivot plate being pivotal relatively to said ski about an axis throughsaid mounting pin means, said pivot plate having an upwardly facingsupport surface, abutment means on said pivot plate, and resilientreturn means engageable with said abutment means for applying forcestending to return said pivot plate to a central position, wherein saidresilient return means is engageable with and supported on said mountingpin means.
 52. Ski binding according to claim 51, wherein said resilientreturn means is a spring means having a portion supported at saidmounting pin means and having two arms which contact respective oppositelateral sides of said abutment means such that, upon a pivoting of thepivot plate laterally away from said central position, a respective oneof the two arms is tensionally engaged with said abutment means.
 53. Skibinding comprising:a pivot plate, mounting means for mounting said pivotplate to said ski with the pivot plate being pivotal relatively to saidski about an axis, said pivot plate having an upwardly facing supportsurface, abutment means on said pivot plate, and resilient return meansengageable with said abutment means for supplying forces tending toreturn said pivot plate to a central position, wherein said resilientreturn means is engageable with and supported on said mounting means,wherein said resilient return means is a spring means having a portionsupported at said mounting means and having two arms which contactrespective opposite lateral sides of said abutment means such that, upona pivoting of the pivot plate platerally away from said centralposition, a respective one of the two arms is tensionally engaged withsaid abutment means, and wherein said spring means is a U-shaped springelement with said two arms being connected by a central bridgingportion, said central bridging portion being engageable with andsupported on a pivot pin forming said mounting means, and wherein anupwardly directed projecting means is arranged a the ski, said armsengaging respective opposite lateral sides of said projecting means whensaid pivot plate is in said central position such that when one of saidarms is moved laterally upon displacement of said pivot plate, the otherof said arms is maintained in position by said projecting means and saidpivot means forming said mounting means.
 54. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said readily detachable means includes a two-partsnap-action connection means having a first part fixedly connectible tosaid sole plate means and a second part fixedly connectible to saidrotatable disk, said first and second parts including respectiveinterengageable locking surface portions which effect automatic lockingof said two parts to one another in response to forcing of said twoparts toward one another by first predetermined forces acting in thedirection of said pivot axis and which effect automatic unlocking ofsaid two parts from one another in response to forcing of said two partsaway from one another by second predetermined forces acting in thedirection of said pivot axis, whereby said rotatable disk can be readilymanually attached to and detached from said sole plate means by applyingaxial forces at said two parts.
 55. Apparatus according to claim 54,wherein said second part is a bolt fixedly secured to said rotatabledisk and extending along said pivot axis, said sole plate meansincluding an aperture alignable with said pivot axis for accommodating alower portion of said bolt, said bolt including an enlarged snap-buttonhead portion at the botton end thereof, said snap-button head portionincluding upwardly facing surfaces which constitute the interengageablelocking surface portions of said second part and which engage with anundercut portion on said sole plate means adjacent said aperture whichconstitute the interengageable locking surface portions of said firstpart.
 56. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein one of saidsnap-button head portion and the area of said sole plate meanssurrounding said aperture is constructed of tenaciously elastic materialwhich elastically deforms to permit locking and unlocking of said twoparts with respect to one another.
 57. Apparatus according to claim 56,wherein said sole plate means is constructed of said tenaciously elasticmaterial.
 58. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said elasticmaterial is one of hard rubber and synthetic resinous materials,especially polyamides.
 59. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein thesnap-button head portion to be forced into the aperture includes twoconical sections substantially coaxial to the axis of the bolt anddiverging with respect to one another between which is disposed acylindrical section.
 60. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein theangle of undercut of the aperture is substantially equal to the coneangle of the conical section to be overlapped by the undercut. 61.Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said rotatable disk is attachedto said sole plate means exclusively by the single snap-actionconnection formed between the bolt and the undercut portion of theaperture.